The Loyal

20- Fortune or Fate?

All Dain could remember was excruciating pain, screaming and darkness. Absently as he woke, Dain lifted his hand to scratch his cheek and everything came rushing back. The skin underneath his fingers was dry and undulating, causing pain to flare through his body. He peeked his eyes open as saw his body bound in tight fabric, hiding the horror left by the fire.

There was a wet cloth pressed over his face, but Dain still could imagine how terrifying he must look. Thankfully both legs were in scathed because during the first burning Dain had tucked in his head and legs.

With a fear, Dain realised he couldn't move his left arm. It hung useless beside against his body. His head throbbed and pain screamed inside him as Dain attempted to stand up. Around him was crystal clear water which lapped gently at the rocky outcrops standing proud. The ceiling was decorated with the reflections of the water and strange mosses.

Dain leaned against a rock beside him, wondering where he was or where Sirath and Ixrith. He shut his eyes for a second and bright flames flashed in his vision, filled with screaming and the roars of dragons. He stumbled back down, what had happened? Where was Sirath?   

Seeing his pack, Dain slowly dragged himself back up on his feet, fighting down the waves of nausea and supporting himself on the jagged walls. Small pink fruits were placed near, there aroma enticing Dain to continue on. He flopped down, exhausted, nibbling on the soft skin of the fruits.

The fruits gave Dain much needed energy and he headed towards the circular exit, leaving his pack behind. The rocky hall was filled with small green weeds and mosses with luminous flowers. Dain filled with fear when he noticed splats of dark red blood pressed fresh into the wall.

"Sirath?" Dain called faintly, begging Threy, the goddess of protection and care, to watch for the blue dragon. What had happened? Dain asked himself again.

The entrance was a large hollowed out cavern. It was nowhere near as beautiful as the spring further down. Guiding himself by the wall, Dain stepped cautiously out into the sunshine. Once his sight returned, the sickly boy smiled tightly as he saw all the beautiful creatures grazing on the lush green grass. 

There were far many more creatures here than at the savannah. Dain, who'd never seen sheep, stared at them with fascination. The shepherds hadn't seen him and began rounding up the strange "fluffy" things with the help of tame wolves and dogs.  

The heat began making Dain feel faint so he returned to the cave, keeping his eyes wide for more clues left by Sirath or Ixrith. The cool water cleared his head and Dain searched through  his bag for anything to do. Upon not finding the letters from Scias, Dain painfully wretched wet papers from his tunic.

All that was there was the charcoal sketch of Sirath and the notes on Dain's father. The letters were absent and Dain scarcely recalled leaving them underneath a rock. They kept making mistakes! 

This meant Scais's letters would be collected by men who happened to travel through the forest and send them on.  Which would result in the Princess of Moonhaven becoming heiress of Scais's kingdom. Which only the gods knew what it would cause.

Dain coughed up a small spatter of blood and shuddered. He felt sick, faint and disgusting, and terribly alone. The water began to feel cold as Dain slumped into it, flinching as it soaked through his bandages. What worried Dain the most was that he could barely see from his left eye. HIs vision was blurred and hazed, making Dain feel lopsided.

He rested for several minutes, half wishing Sirath would suddenly return. As Dain suspected, it didn't happen. Of course it didn't happen! He slowly and painfully returned to the entrance cavern, watching out for any strangely shaped shadow. What would happen if she failed to return? Would Dain had enough strength to travel on?